Olympic Trials berths are on the line as all six women’s freestyle weights will be contested at US Nationals on December 15-17. Every match matters since only the top five in each class qualify. Here are 10 match-ups we hope to see in Dallas this weekend.

50 kg: Sage Mortimer vs Emily Shilson

Much has happened since these two met in April. Mortimer was disqualified against Shilson within the first 30 seconds of her first match at the U23 National Championships in Spokane, Washington. Mortimer was in a front headlock and she twice attempted to clear the position and Shilson’s head hit the mat, which left her unconscious.

Officials ruled the technique brutality and Mortimer was disqualified from the match, as well as the remaining matches in the best-of-three series. She was also retroactively disqualified from the tournament, which means she did not place at U23 Nationals. Shilson had also pinned Mortimer in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships finals a few weeks prior. 

Mortimer spent her first two seasons at King University, placing third and second at nationals, before transferring to Grand Valley State in the off-season. Shilson skipped the US Open in late April and both entered the Bill Farrell Memorial in November but didn’t meet.

50 kg: Samara Chavez vs Jaslynn Gallegos

This would be a rematch of the 2023 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships at 116 pounds. Chavez was ahead 8-1 early in the second period when she hit a blast double but Gallegos countered with a lateral drop and secured a fall. Gallegos also picked up a fall in the first minute of their match at the 2023 National Duals.

The two were scheduled to meet at the NWCA All-Star Classic but Gallegos was a late scratch from the event. Their four-match history paints a picture of how exciting this could be.

Match History: 2-2
2023 NCWWC (NCAA finals): Gallegos pinned Chavez, 3:35
2023 NWCA National Duals: Gallegos pinned Chavez, :55
2022 North Central Open: Chavez pinned Gallegos, 2:26
2018 Women’s Nationals: Chavez teched Gallegos, 21-11

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Gallegos and Chavez met in the 2023 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship finals

50 kg: Samara Chavez vs Sage Mortimer

Chavez and Mortimer were teammates at King before Mortimer transferred to Grand Valley State. Mortimer notched a dramatic 12-10 win at the Bill Farrell Memorial International in the closing second of the match. 

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Former teammates Chavez and Mortimer had a wild match at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational

50 kg: Emilie Gonzalez vs Ava Bayless vs Brianna Gonzalez

All three start for the University of Iowa at three different weights. Emilie competes at 101, Bayless at 109, and Brianna at 116. The Gonzalez sisters are identical twins, which only adds to the intrigue of this unique situation for the Hawkeyes. 

53 kg: Haley Augello vs Katie Gomez

Augello made the 2016 Olympic team at 48 kg before retiring two years later at the age of 25. The 29-year-old recently returned to competition at the Bill Farrell Memorial International at 53 kg. 

Gomez represents the next generation of women’s wrestling after winning this year’s US Open. The 19-year-old participated in the U20 and U23 World Championships earlier this year. 

Each won a Cadet World title 10 years apart: Augello in 2011 and Gomez in 2021.

57 kg: Jacarra Winchester vs Xochitl Mota-Pettis

Winchester earned a semifinal berth at the Olympic Trials thanks to her World silver medal at 55 kg earlier this year, so she doesn’t have to be here. She’s likely testing the waters at a higher weight to determine what Olympic class suits her best.

Mota-Pettis won the US Open at 57 kg but fell to Helen Maroulis in straight matches at a delayed Final X. 

Winchester is solid from every position and Mota-Pettis can throw from anywhere. Styles make match-ups, and this one could be highly entertaining. 

62 kg: Ana Luciano vs Ashlynn Ortega

Another potential teammate vs teammate showdown between former King University stars. Both were five-time All-Americans for the Tornado, primarily at different weights. Below are their placings at the national collegiate championships from 2019-23. 

Luciano: 6-4-2-3-1 (all 136 except 2019 where she wrestled at 143)

Ortega: 3-3-2-1-2 (all 143)

62 kg: Nanea Estrella Vs Esther Han

This could be a de facto wrestle-off for the two Iowa stars. Both compete at 136 pounds for the Hawkeyes. 

68 kg: Alara Boyd vs Solin Piearcy 

Boyd recently entered the North Central Open unattached after ACL surgery over the summer. The two-time age-level World medalist — affectionately known as Larry by her teammates — is known for her aggressive and often punishing style. Her spectacular throws are known as Boyd Bombs. 

Piearcy has a highly entertaining style that leads to highly entertaining matches. She had a three-match shoot-out with Sienna Ramirez at the 2022 World Team Trials Challenge tournament and looked solid at the 2022 World Cup.

These two met during the quarterfinals of last year’s challenge tournament, with Piearcy winning 4-4. 

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Boyd and Piearcy met in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

76 kg: Kylie Welker vs Skylar Grote

Welker and Grote are part of the deep and talented 76 kg class. Welker reached the 202One Olympic Trials finals as a teenager where she fell in straight matches to six-time World champion Adeline Gray. The University of Iowa freshman is currently ranked first in the nation at 170 pounds. 

Grote reached Final X in 2022 at 72 kg but moved up for the Olympic cycle. She has made gains at every tournament since that point and looked solid at the Bill Farrell Memorial International. Welker teched Grote 10-0 during a consolation match at the US Open, so this could show how far Grote has come in eight months.